The Tavy 13 Half Marathon returns this year on Sunday, March 20 at 10am.

Due to the pandemic, the popular running event hosted by Tavistock Athletic Club has not been held since 2019. Three years later, the club are ready, raring and excited to bring the event back and anticipation amongst runners and organisers is even more palpabale following the success of the Tavy 7 event in October last year which proved to be a huge success.

The first half of the 13.1 mile course is undulating, however runners can enjoy the idyllic views of south west Dartmoor as they tackle the course’s topography. The last five miles are relatively flat and downhill; coming back into town through meadows park, the final mile is completed at the athletics track. There will be water stations placed at regular intervals throughout the route.

Many local groups take part including the Plymouth Muskateers, the Tamar Trotters, the Bere Alston Trekkers, the Plymouth Storm and South Devon AC.

Those of all ages and abilities are encouraged to sign up and run. In 2019, there were four runners in their 70s!

There will be tail runners at the very back to ensure everyone is on track. They will be assisted by volunteers and marshals stationed all throughout the course.

Friends and family are highly encouraged to come down, line the streets and cheer on their loved ones and others who are running on the day.

Now the event has returned, some will have covid-related concerns: the event is outdoors (naturally ventilated) and runners will also be slightly more spread out at the start line. Overcrowding will not be an issue given the vast expanse of the course, the majority of which runs through rural Dartmoor.

Inevitably, the event will cause temporary road closures on the day and organisers are warning drivers that there will be likely congestion around 10am on the day near Crowndale school.

Tavistock Athletic Club are assisted by the Lions Club and Dartmoor Rescue Group in running the event. The event’s main sponsor are Mansbridge Balment estate agents, who have also filled this role in many previous years. Tavistock Hire Centre will also help to stage the event.

Maximum capacity for the race is 600 entrants and Tavistock AC are hoping for a sell-out. Tickets will remain on the website until they are all taken â?? for more information go to the website http://www.tavistockathletics.co.uk and look up events.

Runners have two opportunities to win a cash prize. One for anyone who can set a new course record (which was set in 2019 at 1:15:06) and another for the first placed male and female.

The Tavy 13 event also plays host to the primary school challenge: a one mile fun run for juniors. Over the preceding 12 weeks, up to 500 children from local primary schools will have clocked up 12 miles of running. On the day, in a separate, subsidiary event, they will complete one final mile in front of parents, teachers and friends whilst the main race is underway, thus completing their own half marathon. There are three separate races in this event, which are split up by age.